The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-09-17
"Ball Up, There"



"ln lS-I was Deputy Governor
of Melbourne Gaol, and, upon one
occasion, having important business
which called me to Geelong, book
cd my place on the mail car, which
was the only public conveyance
available, and took my seat on the
the box on one of those deliciously
balmy mornings SO common in that
country, but little experienced here.
There were but three passengers,
the car driver and guard, and we
ratified along at brisk pace, con-
versing freely upon various topics.
Among others the vexed question of
"Free Trade versus Protection" sup
piled us with ample materials for
animated discussion. Being Il
staunch Radical in politics, | was
eloquent in favor Of the former, and
dilatcd freely upon the numerous
advantages enjoyed by. the "old
country in consequence thereof,
winding up my peoration by stand
ing up, waving my pocket handker-
chief and shouting at the top Of my
voice, "free trade forever" when
bang -ping-ping-. What could
be matter?
We were not long kept in sus-
pcnsc, for two men suddenly emer-
ged from the bush with the cry
which has sent thrill of horror to
the heart of many Il traveller in these
regions, "Ball up, there" which is
equivalent to the old highwayman's
challenge, "Your money or your
life" The car driver mechanically
pulled up his horses, evidently fear
ing repetition of the revolver
practice, which might not prove so
harmless as the first, but |, perhaps
more from long acquaintance with
the class of men by whom we were
assailed than from Indifference to
danger, seized the reins and whip
from the paralyzed driver and LASH
ed the horses into furious gallop
ping ping went the bullets
most unpleasantly close to our ears
however, we were getting well bey-
ond their reach, and every bound of
the infuriated animals carried us
further from danger, when to our
dismay, one OF the wheelers stum-
bled badly and was by reason of the
great speed at which we were going
unable to regain his footing, and If
ter short but desperate struggle,
fell heavily. We fastened to dis
mount in hopes of getting the pool
animal upon his legs and starting
again before the robbers could comt
up with us, but we were disappoint
ed, for we were soon overtaken by
them. The first, a powerful mar
seized me roughlyby the throat anC
presenting his revolver to my head
coolly informed me upon my max
ing the slightest resistance, he woult
blow out my brains, and suddenly
releasing me from his iron grasp, h
still keeping the revolver to my heat
drew another with his disengaget
hand and covered" my companion
generally with it, with the remarl
that his friend would not proceed t
business, at the same time iocosel,
iutimating that probabl y my polite
ul opinions had under gone Il suddel
8 chsngc and that l might want Il iii
tie protection" which pleasantr
benc 80 much to the point, notwith
standing the serious aspect of a
fairs, caused general laugh at m
expense. business" was quickl
proceeded with by bushranger No .
n binding the car driver and guart
: whom he then assisted to mount tn
= car, after which he performed simi
lar kind offices for the other two pas
sengers, my turn coming last, for tn
reason | think, that the robbers de
tected my intention to avail mysel
the slightest relaxation of watchful
ness ON their part to make a suddel
and determined resistance, an inten
ton | certainly had, but which wa
cfIcctually frustrated by the close at
tention paid me by him of the tw
e revolvers.
Being I'LL aboard, the first bush
h ranger took the reins, the other keep
ing guard over us with the dreade,
weapons, and we found ourselve
being hurried away in the direction
of the Geelong sands. Arrive'
there the quondam car-driver alight
ed, dclibei ately embarrassed tn
horses, and we were one by one as
sisted from the car and bound, som
to the wheels, Others to the pole {
the car, "spread-eagle fashion"
The robbers now proceeded t
rifle our pockets of everything va
,,nl.ln nnI ,,n..A a. nnn,, Ahn 49,,